Former NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot Victor Glover is leaving his role at NASA to take on a new position as executive advisor to the president of Cal Poly University. NASA announced on Sept. 9 that Glover, along with Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, will transition to emeritus status, which means they will no longer be active astronauts but will retain some ties to the agency. Both men are not retiring entirely, and Glover emphasized that he will keep a NASA email address and may still be considered a special government employee. His new role at Cal Poly will be full-time, though he noted it will not involve traditional work hours, and he will not serve as a faculty member or oversee a board. Glover officially started his new position with Cal Poly President Jeff Armstrong on Sept. 1. While he is stepping away from most of his NASA responsibilities, he stressed that his relationship with the agency will remain "a little bit different" and "more robust." Glover is a Cal Poly alumnus who graduated with an engineering degree in 1999. He is also connected to the university through his wife, Dionna, who also attended Cal Poly, and their four daughters, all of whom have either graduated or are currently enrolled there. In his new role, Glover will work with university leadership, including the president, provost, and college deans, to help develop and accelerate strategic initiatives, partnerships, and fundraising efforts aimed at expanding the university's leadership in various fields. Cal Poly has been undergoing significant changes, including shifting from a quarter system to a semester-based system and integrating the former California State University Maritime Academy. Glover praised the university’s "Learn by Doing" philosophy, which emphasizes hands-on, real-world experience alongside classroom learning. He believes his NASA experience will support this approach, particularly in fostering innovation and practical skills. Glover joined NASA in 2013 and served as a pilot on Artemis II, which completed a lunar flyby in April. He had previously flown to space as a pilot on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station, where he spent 168 days in orbit and conducted four spacewalks. He has stated he does not plan to return to space and would have stayed at NASA if he wanted to go back. His background includes serving as a U.S. Navy aviator and test pilot, with over 4,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft. He noted that the Artemis II crew's experience and insight into the spacecraft are invaluable to NASA, which is why he and Wiseman are transitioning to emeritus status. The Artemis program aims to establish a permanent base on the moon, with the next mission, Artemis III, targeting mid-2027. Glover said his decision to move to Cal Poly was straightforward and was supported by both NASA and the university. He expects to make a permanent move to the West Coast after the New Year, and both institutions are offering him and his family time to adjust to this new chapter.